Industry
News, trends, and analysis of the trades and services industry, including regulations and market data.
Smart Tools' Efficiency Hindered by High Costs
A single smart construction dashboard can cost a company with 100 users $90,000 annually, often without including hidden setup fees.
Heat pump installations outsell gas furnaces, reshaping HVAC construction
Since 2021, heat pump installations have consistently outsold gas furnaces, marking a profound shift in how America heats and cools its buildings.
Tool Libraries Drive Billions in Economic Benefits
On May 20, 2026, Detroit's Bailey Park tool library will host a tool drive, a small community event that belies the multi-billion dollar economic impact similar community-focused initiatives are gener
Skilled Trades Surge as Tech Giants Expand Apprenticeships Amid Labor Shortage
In some North American markets, building data centers for tech giants now accounts for up to 50% of total work hours for union construction members, according to the Construction Owners Club .
Apprenticeships Surge: Vocational Training Tackles Skilled Trades Labor Shortage
In 2023, Southern Home Services hired Matt Ellenberg to enhance training.
AI Transforms Home Services: Experiences & Engagement Deepen
In a significant industry shift, Wind Telecom has commercially deployed ZTE's Smart Cloud Platform , bringing intelligent home solutions directly to consumers in the Dominican Republic.
Small Off-Road Engine Market Expands, Driven by Electrification
Last year, sales of battery-powered lawnmowers in North America surged by 28%, while traditional gasoline models saw their first decline in a decade, according to an Industry Trends Report .
SEMA Report: Automotive Aftermarket Faces Growth Amidst Tech Shifts
The automotive aftermarket is set to swell to $560 billion by 2027, yet traditional brick-and-mortar stores saw a 5% decline in foot traffic last year.
Eco-Friendly Tools Fuel Sustainable DIY Culture's Market Shift
Sales of refurbished power tools jumped 30% last year, outpacing new tool sales in several categories.
Robotics Technician Demand Surges 113% as AI Transforms Job Market
Three electricians under the age of 30 were making between $240,000 and $280,000 per year at a data center.
The Smart Home Shift: What It Means for Trades Professionals in 2026
At the upcoming CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026, industry sessions will focus less on basic installations and more on integrating intelligent security systems and optimizing energy grids.
AI Fuels Logistics Boom: Industrial Sector Sees Unprecedented Automation Growth
C.H. Robinson has deployed over 30 AI agents. These agents now perform millions of shipping tasks daily. They manage complex logistical operations, from freight matching to route optimization. This re
Smart Tools IoT Integration Set to Transform Trades Industry
Wearable safety monitoring systems for workers have correlated with a 40% reduction in workplace accidents and injuries, fundamentally reshaping the risk profile for trades workers, according to pmc .
Urbanization Fuels APAC Construction Equipment Market: Trillion-Dollar Aim
In 2021, India's excavator sales surged an astonishing 54.
The Green Skill Shift: What It Means for Skilled Trades
Job postings requiring at least one green skill are growing twice as fast as the number of workers who possess those abilities, creating a significant talent imbalance across various sectors.
Sustainability Trends Reshape Skilled Trades, Widening the Skills Gap
In Germany, 30% of new construction jobs now require specific certifications in energy-efficient building techniques—a five-fold increase in a decade.
Industrial hemp building materials see global trends surge in 2026
In March 2025, Hempitecture Inc.
Homeowners Fund Remodels With Personal Savings
In 2024, 84% of homeowners funded their renovation projects using personal savings, even as the median cost for a small kitchen remodel jumped 9% to $35,000, according to Houzz .
What is Fleet Utilization and How to Optimize it for Construction?
State fleet assets failing to meet 75% of minimum utilization thresholds are granted a 12-month grace period before re-evaluation, according to the California Department of General Services (DGS) .
Industry 5.0's Human-Centric Shift: Reshaping Global Manufacturing
More than half of pharmaceutical leaders admit that employee resistance, not technological capability, is the primary barrier to adopting advanced digital solutions, according to Pharmaceutical Techno
Advanced Construction Tech Boosts Efficiency Amid Workforce Shift
Bedrock Robotics, an autonomous construction tech startup, secured $270 million in Series B funding, pushing its total investment beyond $350 million, according to Electrek .
Heat-Resistant Glass Market Soars, Fire-Resistant Glass Set to Double
The global fire-resistant glass market, valued at USD 11.
Automation's Grip Tightens on Specialized Equipment Markets
The United States faces a projected shortage of 600,000 welders over the next decade, a gap so vast it will compel the widespread adoption of physical AI in manufacturing, according to Design News .
Skilled trades safety: Tech deployed, yet workers remain at risk
Despite advanced tech deployment, heat-related deaths in skilled trades rose 117% since 1999, revealing a critical disconnect in worker safety outcomes.
What are Skilled Trades Fall Protection Regulations?
While a construction worker needs fall protection at six feet, a shipyard employee requires it at five feet, and a longshoreman at eight feet, revealing a surprising patchwork of safety rules.
AI Automation's Impact on Skilled Trades Training 2026 Is Not What You Think
Gen Z is increasingly turning to trade schools to future-proof their careers against AI, a trend reported by The New York Times .
AI automation impact on skilled trades future is here, Meta invests $115M
Meta's Level-Up fiber installation training program received 35,000 applications in just seven days, according to About Fb .
AI in Industry Erodes Trust; Your Skills Might Be Next
In a factory where autonomous robots perform tasks once requiring decades of human expertise, a single software glitch could halt production and erase years of institutional knowledge.
Automation and AI Won't Steal Skilled Trades Jobs. Here's Why.
Since late 2022, demand for robotics technicians has spiked an astonishing 107%, far outpacing growth in many white-collar sectors.
College Grads Thrive Amid AI: Why The 'AI Apocalypse' Is Overblown
While headlines scream about AI replacing millions, a recent survey found 85% of 2023 college graduates secured employment within six months, a rate higher than pre-pandemic levels.